National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Supercells of April 25, 2005

Radar image from Ft. Worth Radar showing supercell storms across  Erath County at 5:02 pm CDT.

Around 3 PM, strong thunderstorms began forming in southern Parker and northern Erath counties. These storms quickly became supercellular and split into several individual storms. This activity generally moved east at around 35 mph. The strongest storms of the afternoon occurred over Dallas, Johnson, and Ellis counties. Quarter size hail was reported at 3:20 PM in Weatherford. Hail reports continued as the storms moved across the Dallas Fort Worth metroplex, ranging from marble to quarter size. Most impressive was not the size of the hail, but the quantity that fell! Drifts of hail up to 1 foot deep were common just south of the metroplex.

Five weak, brief tornadoes were reported with these storms. One was reported at 4:14 PM in south Fort Worth, just east of the Miller Brewery. 

A second tornado occurred west of Alvarado, in Johnson County, at approximately 4:25 PM. Brief tornadoes were reported near Mansfield; between Cedar Hill and Midlothian; and near Maypearl in Ellis county at 5:00. Damage to tree limbs, television antennas, and outbuildings resulted from this activity.

Supercell in Ellis County at 5:02 pm CDT

 


Later that evening, severe weather continued as storms moved across extreme north Texas. Hail to the size of golf balls and larger was reported in Fannin, Delta, and Hopkins counties. Downburst winds combined with the hail to damage homes and vehicles, especially in the Bailey community in southern Fannin County. 

Picture of hail drifts in Alvarado

Picture of funnel clouds at Whitney State Park.

Hail Covered the Ground in Alvarado

Funnel Clouds at Lake Whitney State Park

Radar image from Ft. Worth Radar showing supercell storms across SE Tarrant and East Johnson counties.
     Supercells in Tarrant/Johnson
           counties at 4:32 pm CDT
   

Funnel cloud picture near Miller Brewery in Southern Tarrant County.

Wall Cloud in Southwest Ft. Worth near Alta Mesa Blvd.

Wall Cloud near Miller Brewery 
in Southern Tarrant Co.

Wall Cloud in Southwest Ft. Worth 
(near Alta Mesa Blvd)